Prosthetic holder for use with a mutilated or deformed hand



March 25, 1969 SAVERlNo 3,434,163

PROSIHE'IIC HOLDER FOR USE WITH AIMUTILATED on DEFORMED HAND Filed Dec. 5, 1966 Sheet of 3 March 25, 1969 P. SAVERINO 3,

PROSTHETIC HOLDER FOR USE WITH A MUTILATED OR DEFORMED HAND Filed Dec. 5, 1966 Sheet 2 of 3 March 25, 1969 P. SAVERINO 3,434,163

FROSTHETIC HOLDER FOR USE WITH A MUTILATED OR DEPORMED HAND Filed Dec. 5, 1966 Sheet 3 of 3 United States Patent Int. Cl. A61f /06 U.S. CI. 312.8 Claims This invention relates to a prosthetic device for a hand which is lacking all four fingers and having only a thumb.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an attachment to a hand that has a thumb only that will provide means in cooperation with the thumb permitting the manipulation and holding of a variety of instrumentalities to thereby enable the person so equipped to perform a variety of manual operations.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rigid holder consisting of an arm securing portion and a mounting portion for the attachment disposed substantially normal to the arm securing portion and provided with an opening through which the thumb extends.

A further object of this invention is to provide the arm securing portion at its inner end opposite the mounting portion with a detachable support wrist band having a swivel connection to the arm securing portion and an additional securing wrist band connected to an intermediate part of the arm securing portion.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide at the free terminal end of the holder mounting portion a rigid upstanding standard to which is detachably secured by a snap-on action a fixed resilient finger member opposite to the thumb and between which an instrumentality is grasped for manipulation.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of an arm terminating in a mutilated hand having a thumb only with the prosthetic holder and fixed finger attached in place and showing the operative relationship of the thumb and fixed finger.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the holder.

FIGURE 3 is a detail vertical sectional view through the upper part of the holder showing details of the mounting pop-tion, standard and detachable fixed finger.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44, FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of the back side of the fixed finger.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view partly in section of the fixed finger.

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of the support wristband in open position.

FIGURES 8 to 12, inclusive, are perspective views showing the holder attached to the wrist portion of the arm and with the thumb and fixed finger grasping a variety of instrumentalities.

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of a hammer and handle as shown in use in FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 14 is a detail sectional view taken on line 1414, FIGURE 13.

FIGURE 15 is a top view of a handle support with a working element mounted thereon.

FIGURE 16 is an exploded side view of the handle support with a different working element for mounting thereon.

3,434,163 Patented Mar. 25, 1969 Referring to the drawings in detail, the prosthetic holder 10, see FIGURE 1, is seen to consist of a rigid arm securing portion 12 and an integral rigid mounting portion 1-4 extending laterally from the forward end thereof substantially normal thereto. Preferably the holder 10 is formed of metal which may be suitably covered by a coating of rubber or other plastic material. The arm securing portion is transversely curved with the forward side end portions merging into a pair of lateral arms 16, 18 integrally joined at their outer free terminal ends by a bight portion 20 to form the mounting portion 14. Extending integrally upwardly from the bight portion 20 is a standard 22 which is transversely curved or concave as clearly shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 and with its side and top edges lying in the same vertical plane. The concave side of the standard faces the thumb.

Viewing FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 it is seen that the mounting portion 14 is in the form of an elongated rigid loop of a size to receive therethrough the thumb of a mutilated or deformed hand lacking all of its fingers. Sufficient space is provided by the rigid loop to accommodate a fixed finger member 24 mounted on the standard 22 as will be hereinafter described, and to leave a gap 26 between the thumb and the finger member 24. i

To secure the arm securing portion 12 of the holder to the wrist portion of the arm there is provided a support wristband 30 and a securing wristband 32. The support wristband 30, see FIGURE 7, is formed of spring steel or other resilient material and is provided with a coating similar to that used on the holder 10. The support wristband 30 is in the form of a split ring having a hook 32 at one end thereof and a lug 33 at its other end. A metal loop or eye is selectively attached to one of plural openings 34 in the lug 33 for engagement with the hook 32 for locking the wristband 30 on the arm. Positioning the eye 35 in a selected opening 34 will adjust the support wristband for proper engagement on the arm, the spring action of the wristband holding the hook and eye in connected relation. Adjacent the lug 33, the support wristband 30 is provided with an outwardly extending head or block 36, having secured thereto in any desired manner a projecting swivel pin 38 terminating in a flathead 39. Extending completely through the block 36 is a longitudinal rectangular slot 40 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

At its rear end the arm securing portion 12 is provided with a medial recessed keyhole slot 42 to accommodate the swivel pin 38 of the support wristband 30 in the manner well known. A swivel lock arm 44 is pivoted at its forward end as at 45 to the arm securing portion 12 such that the rear end of the lock arm will engage the swivel pin head 39 to hold the swivel pin 30 against movement in the slot 42 permitting only swivelling movement thereof. The pivotal connection of lock arm 44 on the arm securing portion 12 is fairly tight so that the same has frictional movement thereon. This will be sufficient to hold the lock arm 44 in its locking position. The swivelling connection between the arm securing portion 12 and the support wristband 30 will permit the proper positioning of the arm securing portion 12 to accommodate the thumb as will be apparent.

Forwardly of the aforesaid swivel connection of support wristband 30 is the securing wrist band 32. This wristband 32 is resiliently stretchable and may be a heavy rubberband having each of its ends connected to the ends of a saddle member extending transversely across the outer face of the arm securing portion 12 intermediate the ends thereof and permanently secured thereto by rivets 51, see FIGURE 2. Any suitable form of adjusting buckle 52 connects each end of the securing wristband 32 to an adjacent end of saddle 50. Positioned within the concave back of the securing arm portion 12 is a cushion pad 54 that is of a somewhat wedge formation and extending from the forward end of the securing arm portion 12 to a point rearwardly beyond the saddle 50, see FIGURE 2. The pad 54 serves to cushion the holder against the base portion of the thumb while the securing wristband 32 operates to firmly retain the holder 10 in its proper attached position relative to the thumb and forearm. The pad 54 is preferably secured to the securing arm portion in any suitable manner, as by an adhesive or even by the rivets 51.

As previously indicated the fixed finger member 24 is detachably connected to the standard 22 at the terminal end of the mounting portion. This finger member 24 is made of rubber and is shown in detail in FIGURES 5 and 6. The finger member 24 embodies an elongated molded rubber block of greater length and width than the standard 22. The front face 60 of the block is fiat and uninterrupted. The block is also recessed as at 62 and is provided with a recessed shoulder or ledge 64 that is complemental to the side and top edges of the standard 22 which seat thereon in the mounted position of the finger member 24. At its lower end 65 the finger member 24 is tapered and inclined rearwardly so as to extend between the arms 16, 18 of the loop shaped mounting portion 14, and terminates in an upwardly directed clamping hook 66. Preferably embedded in the wall 67 of the finger member 24 is a flat leaf spring 68 having projecting spring clamping end portions 69, 70. As thus constructed it is seen that the finger member 24 may be readily attached to the standard 22 by a snap action by moving the same downwardly relative to the standard 22 such that the spring clamping ends 69, 70 engage the convex back of the standard 22 until the side and top edges of the standard wholly seat on the ledge 64 and with the clamping hook 66 snapped over the bight portion to snugly grip the same. Viewing FIGURE 3 it will be seen that the bight portion 20 is of a greater thickness than the wall of the standard 22. By virtue of the fact that the finger member is of rubber, the wall 67 possesses a certain amount of give and resiliency. This resiliency aside from the natural resiliency of the rubber, which incidently is relatively stiff, results from the fact that there is provided a hollow chamber between the standard 22 and the finger member 24, see FIGURE 3, which permits flexure of the wall 67. Also its front face 60 provides a friction surface. Should wear or damage occur to the finger member it may readily be replaced.

With the prosthetic holder 10 and attached finger member 24 attached to the hand and arm, see FIGURE 1, the thumb will be exactly opposite the front face 60 of the finger member with a gap 26 therebetween. As the finger member 24 is fixed with relation to the standard and/ or holder 10 it is apparent that any desired instrumentality that can be inserted in the gap 26 can be held therein by pressure exerted by the thumb, the same being therefore firmly gripped due to the resilience and friction surface provided by the finger member wall 67. So held, the instrumentality can then be manipulated for its intended purpose.

FIGURE 8 illustrates a knife 70 with its handle 71 firmly gripped between the thumb and the fixed finger member 24.

FIGURE 9 illustrates how a tweezer 72 is manipulated between the thumb and the fixed finger member 24.

FIGURE 10 illustrates a hacksaw frame 73 provided on the forward arm 74 opposite the handle carrying arm (not shown) with a sleeve shaped handle 75 of rubber or wood gripped between the thumb and fixed finger member 24.

FIGURE 11 illustrates a screwdriver 76 held between the thumb and fixed finger member 24.

FIGURE 12 illustrates a hammer 78 held by the thumb, finger member 24 and supporting wristband 30. In FIG- URE 13 there is shown the hammer 78 provided with a steel strip handle 79 and which is preferably of spring steel. The handle 79 is of fiat bar stock of uniform width and thickness and dimensioned so as to snugly fit within the rectangular elongated slot 40 in the head 36 of the supporting wristband 30. Welded to the handle 79 is a ring 80 extending in the same direction as the hammerhead 78' and a short distance below the same. In use the handlebar 79 is slipped downwardly between the pad and the hand with its lower end fitting into the slot 40 of the head 36 and with the thumb extending through the ring 80. In this case the thumb presses the ring 80 against the fixed finger member as well as bearing thereagainst. Thus it is seen that the handle 79 is securely held relative to the hand, arm and holder 10 and may thus be used in the conventional manner. If desired an additional ring may be secured to the other side of the handle 79 so that it may be reversed as to place the peen end 81 in operative use. Due to the resiliency of the handle 79 the use of the hammer is greatly facilitated. While the flexible handle 79 is shown used with a hammer it is to be understood that the same may be used with other instrumentalities such as a paint brush, paint roller, scraper, etc.

In FIGURE 15 there is shown a handle member for use with the holder 10, the handle member 90 having a thickened forward portion 91, a tapering intermediate portion 92 and a thin rear portion 93 which constitutes a shank, with one side 94 of the handle 90 flat while the other side is stepped with the intermediate portion inclined. In FIGURE 15 the handle 90 is provided with a rectilinear recess 95 that is normal to the flat side 94. A rubber block 96 shaped to fit in recess 95 and of a width such as to project laterally from the fiat side 94 carries a tool member 97 which is of relatively small size. In use the shank of handle 90 is inserted in the loop of the mounting portion 14 and between both wristbands 32, 30 and the hand and wrist with the thickened portion 91 lying between the thumb and fixed finger member 24. The block 96 is appropriately inserted in the recess 95 with the tool member 97 projecting forwardly and held in operative position by pressure of the thumb on block 96. A great variety of small implements or tools may each have a block holder such as 96 thereby permitting interchangeable use of the implements with the handle member 90.

The handle member 90' of FIGURE 16 is similar in all respects to the handle member 90 of FIGURE 15 except that the rectangular recess 95' extends across downwardly and/or inwardly from the flat side 94 whereas in FIG- URE 15 the recess extends transversely of the thickened portion 91 from one side to the other thereof. A rubber block 96 having a metal base 98 carries a small implement .99, in this case an awl or needle, which extends entirely through the base 98 and provided on its projecting rear end with a hook serving as an abutment. In this case the block 96' when seated in recess 95' places the implement 99 in a different working position from that of implement 97. In the position shown in FIGURE 16 the handle member 90' and implement 99 may be fitted together for carrying purposes when not used with holder 10. In operative use the implement 99 is reversed, and with base 98 of block 96 fitted in slot 95', the awl or needle 99 will project from the handle member and be in engagement with the fiat face 94 including its abutment hook portion 100. As with implement 9 7, the implement 99 is held in place by the thumb in the manner as described above.

The novel features and the operation of this device will be apparent from the foregoing description. While the device has been shown and the structure described in detail, it is obvious that this is not to be considered limited to the exact form disclosed, and that changes may be made therein within the scope and the spirit of the invention.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. A prosthetic holder for use with a mutilated or deformed hand having only a thumb, comprising:

(a) a rigid arm securing portion,

(b) a mounting portion integral with said arm securing portion at its forward end and extending laterally therefrom,

(c) a standard at the free terminal end of said mounting portion projecting forwardly thereof and integral therewith,

(d) there being an opening in said mounting portion through which the thumb extends to lie in opposed spaced relation to said standard,

(e) a support wristband connected to the rear end of said arm securing portion,

(f) a securing wristband connected to an intermediate portion of said arm securing portion, and

(g) detachable abutment means connected to said standard, whereby an implement placed between the thumb and said abutment means is gripped therebetween by pressure exerted by the thumb to permit manipulation of the implement in the work operation for which it is intended.

2. The prosthetic holder of claim 1, wherein:

(a) said abutment means is formed of resilient material to provide a fixed finger member positionable on the side of the standard in opposed relation to the thumb, and

(b) resilient clamping means on said fixed finger member for detachably connecting the same to the standard by a snap action.

3. The prosthetic holder of claim 2, wherein said resilient clamping means comprises:

(a) spring clamping means at each side of the finger member engageable with the back side of the standard, and

(b) a hook member at the lower terminal end of the finger member formed as an integral part thereof to resiliently and clampingly engage the lower end portion of the back side of said standard.

4. The prosthetic holder of claim 3 wherein:

(a) said finger member is longitudinally recessed at its back side to provide a front abutment wall having a flat outer face,

(b) a depressed ledge extending around the sides and top of said recess adapted to seat against corresponding side and top edges of said standard whereby to positively position said finger member thereon, and

(c) said front wall providing a yielding and frictional abutment surface for the implement held thereagainst.

5. The prosthetic holder of claim 4, wherein:

(a) said mounting portion is a loop having side arms and a bight portion,

(b) said standard being integral with the bight portion and being transversely concave whereby its back side is convex,

(c) said finger member being tapered at its lower end so as to permit extension thereof rearwardly between the arms of the loop, and

(d) said hook member extending from the tapered end of the finger member and directed forwardly for engagement with the bight portion.

6. The prosthetic holder of claim 5, wherein:

(a) said standard and said finger member in its attachment thereto form a hollow chamber therebetween permitting resilient inward movement of the finger wall in its associated gripping action with the thumb on the implement.

7. The prosthetic holder of claim 1, including:

(a) a keyhole slot at the rear end of said arm securing portion,

(b) an elevated head portion on said support wrist band,

(c) a swivel pin fixedly secured to the head portion and positioned within said keyhole slot for swivelly connecting the support wristband to the arm securing portion, and

(d) a locking lever pivotally connected to the arm securing portion for holding the swivel pin in its operative position.

8. The prosthetic device of claim 7, including:

(a) a slot in said elevated head portion, whereby in the use of an implement having a handle of fiat rectangular bar stock and a ring on the handle adjacent to the implement part thereof, manipulation of the implement is effected by insertion of the fiat handle through the opening in the mounting portion between the arm securing portion and the hand and/ or arm with the thumb extending through the ring and the rear terminal end of the flat handle fitted into the slot in the elevated head portion.

9. The prosthetic device of claim 8, wherein:

(a) said support wrist band is a split resilient member having its opposed ends normally spaced apart,

(b) a hook member at one end of said ends, and

(c) an eye member at the other end adjustable at selected positions thereon for connection to said hook member.

10. The prosthetic holder of claim 1, wherein:

(a) said securing wrist band is resiliently extensible and contractab'le,

(b) a saddle member secured to the arm securing portion,

(c) adjustable buckle means connecting said securing wrist band to at least one end of the saddle member, and

(d) a pad member fixedly positioned on said arm securing portion at its inner side to engage the hand in the zone of the base portion of the thumb.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,322,027 11/1919 Lacaire 3 12.s 1,493,029 6/1924 Giles 3-12 1,711,447 4/1929 Colanduoni 3-12.3

' FOREIGN PATENTS 459,255 9/1950 Italy.

OTHER REFERENCES Orthopaedic Appliances Atlas by I. W. Edwards, Ann Arbor, Mich., vol. 2, Artificial Limbs, 1960, pp. 86-92.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

R. L. FRINKS, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 3-12 

1. A PROSTHETIC HOLDER FOR USE WITH A MUTILATED OR DEFORMED HAND HAVING ONLY A THUMB, COMPRISING: (A) A RIGID ARM SECURING PORTION, (B) A MOUNTING PORTION INTEGRAL WITH SAID ARM SECURING PORTION AT ITS FORWARD END AND EXTENDING LATERALLY THEREFROM, (C) A STANDARD AT THE FREE TERMINAL END OF SAID MOUNTING PORTION PROJECTING FORWARDLY THEREOF AND INTEGRAL THEREWITH, (D) THERE BEING AN OPENING IN SAID MOUNTING PORTION THROUGH WHICH THE THUMB EXTENDS TO LIE IN OPPOSED SPACED RELATION TO SAID STANDARD, 